Truth & Rumors > NCAAB
Agent deals recruiting dirt
The process often starts with the same four words. I got this kid . . . . The phrase might come from a club basketball coach, a shoe company executive, a friend or a relative -- anyone who believes he can parlay his connection to a star player into a handsome payout. How does it happen? In an interview, a prominent agent described how so-called "runners" serve as intermediaries between top prospects and agents hoping to cash in when the player turns pro. "If agents could get players in a fair, representative way without paying money they would, because everyone is a bottom-line businessman," he added. "But they can't." Payments to runners are made either directly or through yet another intermediary -- perhaps a real estate broker, car salesman, banker or financial advisor. There are advantages to each approach. The use of an intermediary provides the agent with plausible deniability, but direct payments leave less of a trail with fewer people involved. The going rate for a runner, the agent said, is 1% to 2% of a player's estimated contract. For a $5-million contract, that would amount to anywhere between $50,000 and $100,000. An agent's standard 4% cut of the same contract would be $200,000. Runners may also receive a percentage of the agent's cut of a player's shoe contract or other endorsements, which sometimes stretch into eight figures. And in many instances, runners are paid without the knowledge of the athlete they are purported to be representing.
O.J. Mayo, Jamie Squire/Getty Images
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Comments (15) Add A Comment
Like we didn't know this was already happening. It's been going on for decades. Perhaps it's time student athletes get a cut of the action, and simply call it "their part time job(s)." Taxing the money would help the economy...right?
DEVO (SPUD)…
Spudville, ID
Total Comments (1260)
The NCAA knows about this but since it has no power to do much about it -nor do they really want to even touch it -- they turn a blind eye UNTIL someone comes out of the shadows and sues or makes a stink when they are cut out of the $$$$. At this point, the NCAA grudgingly comes in kicking and screaming to investigate. They will then drag it out and ultimately state they don't have enough evidence to do anything and then move on. The only way the NCAA will do something is when the FBI or IRS comes in and is able to collect evidence.
The Warden
Beverly Hills , CA
Total Comments (695)
The more I learn about agents, the more I realize they are all just a bunch of hores. While, on the other hand, these players aren't stupid and they have to know where the money and bling is coming from.
MrMiyagiJr
Total Comments (1422)
MrMiyagi, one of the points of the article is that the athlete has no clue about the amount of money being distributed in these "back room" deals and conversations.
Theaxman
San Antonio , TX
Total Comments (1)
No clue? Where do these kids think the money is coming from? They know.
MrMiyagiJr
Total Comments (1422)
Point 1) They know where the money is coming from -Agents, but they have no clue as to which 1) how they got that money 2) how wrong it all really is and 3) the connections of whichever agent it is
Point 2) Not all agents are ****, but its all those that continue to do all of these under-the-table deals and negotiations that hurt the name of sports agents and cause the public to label them all as just "Bad People"
Point 3) The NCAA is really at fault here, as are the universities, and those universities alumni of continue to allow these "Evils" to exist. Please, will someone, an athlete or representative, of these associations and institutions to put a stop to all the madness that is AMATEUR collegiate athletics
ndirishnc
High Point, NC
Total Comments (3)
They call this 'dirt'?
This is a creative use of resources that has proven to work.
There IS LOTS of 'dirt' in the industry...but this article doesn't scratch the surface.
YODA
Total Comments (15637)
As long as the kid isn't throwing games/point shaving....
I could care less as to how much under-the-table $ he gets to go to a school.
GOOD FOR THE KID
this is AMERICA - he should be able to earn $ based on his product
which is ATHLETICS
- his window of opportunity to earn a REAL living is so short, that he should be allowed to take advantage of some stupid agent/booster, whomeve......that is willing to give him & his family $- which alot of these kids don't have.
jgb
Total Comments (2212)
So, in your opinion the end justifies the means?
MrMiyagiJr
Total Comments (1422)
And they use a USC player as the picture to accompany this article.
FootballGuru
Total Comments (822)
They should have put a picture of Reggie Bush up there
FootballGuru
Total Comments (822)
I expect that the USC basketball team will face some serious sanctions.
Expect some ban on post tournament appearances , at a min.
The USC team will also face some scholarship limitations.
NOT sure I would want to go to USC.
Especially, if a recruit is a ONE AND DONE player.
Looks somewhere ELSE!!!
ZonaWildcatBaby
Total Comments (13)
Did you hear the latest on the POINT GUARD U?????????
It appears that POINT GUARD U is at it again!
Within a few weeks, there WILL be several key announcements.
The first one is that Abdul Gaddy is going to the Arizona Wildcats.
He will join a long list of guards which have gone to Arizona and then proceed to the NBA.
Yes, to join the likes of Gilbert, Terry,Damon,Salim,Richard Jefferson,Andrea Ig., Bibby, Hassm Adams,Dickerson,Simon,Gardner,Steve Kerr,........
HOLD UP!
There is MORE.
The Abdul announcement will have Avery Bradley coming to the Arizona Wildcats. A deadly one-two combination for Arizona.
Avery has the making of the next "Terry". He is money for sure.
WAIT. There is MORE.
What?
Yes, another 5 star guard joining the ranks.
A 2010 5 Star in the name of Bejarano.
He is a scoring machine.
Point Guard U just RELOADED!
Wait, Check YOURSELF...
Did we forget one more.
Oh yes, Matt Carlino is high on the Cats.
And is reportly ready to give a Verbal to Coach Lute and the Arizona Wildcats.
ZonaWildcatBaby
Total Comments (13)
Did you hear the latest on the POINT GUARD U?????????
It appears that POINT GUARD U is at it again!
Within a few weeks, there WILL be several key announcements.
The first one is that Abdul Gaddy is going to the Arizona Wildcats.
He will join a long list of guards which have gone to Arizona and then proceed to the NBA.
Yes, to join the likes of Gilbert, Terry,Damon,Salim,Richard Jefferson,Andrea Ig., Bibby, Hassm Adams,Dickerson,Simon,Gardner,Steve Kerr,........
HOLD UP!
There is MORE.
The Abdul announcement will have Avery Bradley coming to the Arizona Wildcats. A deadly one-two combination for Arizona.
Avery has the making of the next "Terry". He is money for sure.
WAIT. There is MORE.
What?
Yes, another 5 star guard joining the ranks.
A 2010 5 Star in the name of Bejarano.
He is a scoring machine.
Point Guard U just RELOADED!
Wait, Check YOURSELF...
Did we forget one more.
Oh yes, Matt Carlino is high on the Cats.
And is reportly ready to give a Verbal to Coach Lute and the Arizona Wildcats.
ZonaWildcatBaby
Total Comments (13)
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